Figure toy



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G. R. M ALLAsTER FIGURE TOY Filed Feb. 16. l926 2 Sheets-Sheet l a L,/(\ a v 6 k z 5 l a 1. z 5 a W m N, 4 y a 8 4m ATTORNEYS.

G. R. M ALLASTER FIGURE TOY Filed. Feb. 16. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 15, 1927.

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enonen Roy, MeALLAs'rnn, or noonnscrnie, NEW YORK."

Application filed'February 16, 1926." Serial No. 883699;

The present invention relates to toys and more particulz-irly to the type 111 which two supports with anchoring portions are connected by a bowed spi'i'ng'which causes the toy to advance along a suitable surface when a flexible connecti'oii secured to one ot the supports and having a sliding connection with the other is subjected-to alternatetensioning and untensioning actions.- An ob ject of this invention is to provide a 'con struction in "which the 'bowed spring is pivotally connected to thesupports in such anianner that the :lorward support may advance by a sliding movement over the surface in which the toy travels. Another object o1 the invention isto" provide a con struction' in which bowed -springs are arranged on opposite sides of thernain bow in such a manner that with the bending and the expansiorroi' the main bow. the outside springs tend to spread apartand produce an action on covering arranged over all the springssimulating a breathing movement in the toy or lateral expansion and contraction of the sides; Another-object of the-invention is to provide in a toyhavinga pair of supports connected by a bowed springtwo members connected to the forward support, one being adapted to ride upon-the floor and the other moving relatively thereto to simulate the opening of the mouth of an animal.

A still further objectof the inventionis to provide in a construction-in which two sup ports are connected by a bowed inei'nber a 'inovably mounted part on the rear support simulating thetail of-the animal, and connected with theoperating'pordin-sucha* manner that the tail is ino'ved with the alternate contraction arideiipansion of the bowed scribed: the novel featuresbeing-pointedout in the appendedclaim's.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side view'of-a toy constructedin accordance with this, invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional View through thetoywith the cover-removed;

Fig.3 1s a plan view;

Fig. 4 is a perspective View ofthe forward support Fig. 5 is a perspective viewofthe rear support Fig. 6 is a transverse section through the-- body showing the bodycontracted laterally; and

Fig. 7 is a similar-view showingthe'body expanded laterally.

Referring inoreparticularlyto the 'illuSr trated'embodimentof the invention,-1 indicatestheiorward support and--2 therea r support.- Both supports have prongs '3 "or other anchoring means depending: down-'- wardly and rearwardly therefrom-so as to' engage a surfaces over which the toy. travels preferably in the form of a carpetonrugjin which the prongs may readily enter; These two supports. are connectedby an upwardly bowed member 5 which is pivoted atg6 to the rear support and is securedat-"Y'toa block 8 which is pivoted at 9 to the forward support 1 so that the bowed rnembero is pivot-ally connected to both supports 1 andQ. The block 8 in turn carries a head mernberlO provided with an upperjaw 11 rigidwith the head member and a lower jaw '12 pivoted to the head ineinber at 13 eccentric to the A tail member 16 is pivoted at 17 to the rear support 2 and base short-arm. 18's);-

tending laterally therefrom; To this arm 18 flexible connection- 19 is'secured 'at-QO. This flenibleconnection extends-forwardly.

frointhe-arm 18-about a pulley 21-011 the forward support 1,; thence rearwafdly; over the rear support 2 beneatha guide loop :22 on-the rear part of the support, 2.

Also connecting the front and rear; supports are two bowed members '23 pivotally secured'to the support'r2at-6 and rigidly secured to the pivoted block or-n1emben8 at 2% on opposite sides'of theconnection 7.

These bowed members 23. lie on opposite sidesoif thebowed member 5.. and how not only upwardly butoutwardly. Secured at its forward edge to the block 8 and extending' over the bowed members 5 and-23-and also-over the-tail ineniber 16 is -a-flexible.

covering 25. This covering maylbe ornamented and coloredin any isuitablemanner to represent the skin or for of the animal which the "toy simulates.

In the operation of theinvention, the two supports 1 and2 areqplaced upon a'fioor' covering which; maybe a carpet'or rug, and

the toy will then'appear as shown in Fig. 1 the mouth being open, the-tail'being. thrown rearwardly, and the main body being in its lowest arched position. By pulling upon the flexible connection 19 from the rear of the toy, the rear support 2 is drawn forwardly. This has the effect of swinging the tail member 16 upwardly as shown in Fig. 2, due to the fact that the flexible connection 19 is secured to the tail member 18, at the same time, the bowed members 5 and 23 are bowed or arched to a greater extent than before, thus drawing the pivoting memher 8 forwardly on the pivot 9 and depressing the upper jaw 11 to move the latter downwardly toward the lower jaw 12. Further, the body of the toy expands laterally due to the bowed members 23 being arranged on opposite sides of the bowed member 5 and bowing outwardly as well as upwardly. When the tension on the flexible connection 19 is released, the member 2 anchors itself in the surface 4 and the bowed springs 5 and 23 expand, thus projecting the support 1 forwardly, elevating the jaw member 11, and causing the bowed members 23 to move close to the bowed member 5 at the upper part of the arches. At the same time, the tail 16 drops to the position illustrated in Fig. 1. By pulling upon the cable 19 quickly and then releasing the same by a number of successive movements, the toy animal advances across the floor, arches its body as it moves, expands and contracts its body laterally to simulate breathing, moves itstail up and down, and opens and closes its mouth, its tongue moving between the jaws.

From the foregoing it will be seen that there has been provided a toy animal having two supports connected by a bowed spring member which pivotally connects to both of the supports so as to maintain the supports in contact with the surface over which the animal is traveling. Additional bowed members are provided on opposite sides of the main body to cause the animal to simulate breathing. A tail member is provided on the rear support which has the flexible connection secured thereto, so that the tail moves back and forth as the flexible connection is pulled to contract and expand the bowed member. A head member is provided having two jaws one of which is pivotally connected to the forward support and the other of which is pivoted to the first mentioned jaw and rides over the surface on which the toy travels.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A toy of the class described comprising two supports, means on the supports for en tering into gripping engagement with the surface over which the supports travel, a resilient bowed member pivotally connected to both supports, and a flexible operating member connected to the rear support and having a sliding connection with the forward support, whereby successive pulls on the flexible connection advances the toy.

2. A toy of the class described comprising two supports, means on the supports for entering into gripping engagement with the surface over which the supports travel, a resilient bowed member connected to both supports, two resilient bowed members connected to both supports and lying on opposite sides of the first mentioned bowed member, said last mentioned bowed members bowing upwardly and outwardly in oppo- I site directions on opposite sides of the median line through the toy, a covering for all the bowed members, and a flexible connection connected to the rear support and having a sliding connection with the forward support, so that alternate pulls on the flexible connection advances the toy over a suitable surface and causes the covering to expand and contract laterally.

3. A toy of the class described comprising a pair of supports, means on the supports for entering into gripping engagement with the surface over which the supports travel, a resilient bowed member connected to both of said supports, a tail member pivotally connected to the rear support, and a flexible connection secured at one end to the tail member at a point removed from the pivot, having a sliding connection with the forward support and extending rearwardly from the forward support, so that alternate pulls on the flexible connection advances the to over a suitable surface and moves the tai 1. A. toy of the class described comprising two supports, means on the supports for entering into gripping engagement with the surface over which the supports travel, a member pivoted to the forward support, a central resilient bowed member pivoted to the rear support and connected to said pivoted member of the forward support, two other resilient bowed members extending upwardly and outwardly on opposite sides of the first mentioned bowed member pivoted to the rear support and connected to the member pivoted to the forward support, a covering for the three bowed members, and a flexible connection connected to the rear support having a sliding connection with the forward support and extending rearwardly from the latter, so that alternate pulls thereon advances the toy over a suitable surface, and expand and contract-s the covering.

5. A toy of the class described comprising two supports, means on the supports for entering into gripping engagement with the surface over which the supports travel, a head member pivotally connected to the forward support, a resilient bowed member connected to the rear support and to the head member removed from said pivot, a jaw l e U member pivoted to the head member and or rung-ed to ride upon the surface over which the toy travels, and a flexible connection con nected to the rear support, having sliding connection with the tor-wardsupport, and extending reurwurdly from the letter so that ulternute pulls thereon advances the toy over it suituble surface and, at the same time, moves the head member relatively to the pivoted ziw member.

6, A to}; of the class described comprising two supports, means on the supports for entering into gripping engagement with the surface over which the supports travel, a member pivoted to one of the supports, it resilient bowed member pivoted to said member and also to the other support, two other bowed members pivoted to said me1nher and also to said other support and extending upwardly and outwurdh; with reterence to the first mentioned bowed member on opposite sides of the latter, a covering for the bowed members, a tail member pivoted to the rear support, :1 head member connected to the member pivoted to the torward support, a jaw member pivoted to the head member to ride upon the surface over which the toy travels, and u ilexiblc connection connected to the tail member, having a sliding connection with the forward member and extending reurwsrdly from the lat ter so that alternate pulls on the tuil member expands and contracts the covering, moves the toil, moves the head on the "forward support relatively to the jaw, azidvences the toy over a suitable surface.

7. A toy of the class described con'iprising two supports, means on the supports tor entering into gripping engagement with the surface over which the supports travel, two resilient bowed members connected to both supports, said bowed men'ibers bowing upwardly and outwardly in opposite directions on opposite sides of the median line through the toy, a covering for the bowed members, and u flexible connection connected to the rear support and having a sliding connection with the forward support so that alternute pulls on the flexible connection z1dvences the toy over a suitable surface and causes the covering to expand and contract luterelly.

8. A toy of the class described comprising a pair of supports, means on the supports tor entering into gripping engagement with the surface over which the supports travel, two resilient bowed members connected to the supports, said bowed members bowing upwurdly and outwardly in opposite directions on opposite sides of the median line through the toy, a covering for the membe and means for effecting the movement ot' one oi the supports toward the other to tension the bowed members so that when the bowed members expand, the other support will be advanced with reference to the first mentioned support.

GEORGE ROY MCALLASTER. 

